Wire-stretcher.



) PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905. J. MOSSMABL] v WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27.1904

WITNESSES} C. Stou izton.

in Dnfl Y 0 CL Tm N N ..R E5 0 V5 T W0 MM MW UNITED STATEs Patented June 6, 1905.

JAMES MOSSMAN, OF WESTERVILLE, OHIO.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,807, dated June 6, 1905. Application filed August 27, 1904. Serial No. 222,478.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES MOSSMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westerville, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in wire-stretchers.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple device whereby a wire may be expeditiously stretched and so constructed and arranged that great leverage power may be obtained, especially for cutting wire.

Another object resides in so arranging and constructing the cutting-blades that they may be readily sharpened.

Finally, the object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described that will be strong, durable, and efficient and simple and comparatively inexpensive to make.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel details of construction and operation, a preferable embodiment of which is described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, where- 1n Figure l is a front elevation with the leverarm closed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the lever-arm extended. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail elevation of the stretcher, the top cutter being broken away to show the gripping parts; and Fig. 4. isa transverse sectional view taken on line :20 a" of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a main or fulcrum bar, which is provided at its outer end with a hook-like point 2 for the purpose of removing staples and at its inner end with a claw 3, which may be used for various purposes, especially in connection with the splicing of wire. Securely fastened to the bar 1 a short distance from its inner end is a housing 4., provided with inner side flanges 5, which engage the bar on each side, as shown in Fig. 4, to prevent lateral displacement thereof. The housing on its outer surface is provided with an angular recess 6, in which is disposed the removable cutter 7 A bolt 8,

passing through the cutter, the housing, and the bar 1, serves the common purpose of holding the parts named rigidly together. The housing a is cut away at one end down to the face of the bar 1 and formed with a curved face or shoulder-9, against which the wire is clamped by the rounded end 10 of the leverarm 11 for the purpose of stretching. A cutter 12, having its face curved to substantially conform to the contour of the end 10, is secured on the outer face of the lever-arm 11 by means of a rivet or screw 13. A headed rivet or screw 14:, passing through the cutter 12 and lever-arm 11, is secured in the bar 1 and forms a pivot-point upon which the leverarm 11 is swung. The cutter 7 projects over the outerface of the cutter 12 and coacts with the said cutter to give a shearing operation when the lever 11 is swung from its extreme outward position inward.

It is obvious that a wire positioned between the cutting edges or faces of the cutters will be readily severed owing to the length of the lever-arm 11, whereby an increased leverage is had. It ,will be observed that the outer end of the lever-arm 11 may be rested upon the ground, and a stout wire-placed between the cutters will be easily severed by the great amount of force or weight which can be brought to bear upon the bar 1. For the purpose of stretching wire the lever-arm is swung outward so as to stand at nearly right angles to the bar 1 and the wire inserted between the end 10 and the shoulder 9. Thelever-arm then being swung in forces the wire against the shoulder 9 by its curved end 10, between which parts the wire is securely clamped and held. The end carrying the claw 3 being placed against a post or other suitable fulcrum-point, the bar and the lever-arm, which will lie as shown in Fig. l, are grasped and swung in the arc ofacircle, which tightens or stretches the wire, when it may be secured and the operation continued.

Of course it is to be understood that there are various manners in which the stretcher may be used, the above merely being one of the methods of operation. 7

1n constructing my stretcher it is only necessary to form the two cutters 7 and 12 of steel, the other parts of the device being made of any suitable metal.

It is obvious that the cutter7 may be readily removed for the purpose of sharpening or renewing and that by swinging the lever-arm so that it stands at right angles to the bar 1 the cutter 12 may be expeditiously sharpened. Should it be desired to replace the cutter 12, it is only necessary to remove the rivets or screws 13 and 14:. V

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a bar, a housing having a clamping-face secured on the bar, a lever having a clamping end adapted to coact with the said clamping-face pivoted upon the bar,

and a cutter mounted upon the outer side of the housing and projecting over the clamping end thereof, the said lever having a cutter adapted to coact with the first-named cutter when the lever isswung.

2. In combination with a bar, a housing formed with a clamping-face and a recess, a removable cutter secured in the recess and projecting from the housing, a lever pivoted on the bar and having a curved end adapted to coact with the said clamping-face and provided with a cutter adapted to project beneath the first-named cutter.

JAMES MOSSMA N.

In presence of G. O. SHEPHERD, A. L. PI-IELrs. 

